With the advancement of technology, humanity’s demands for measurement accuracy have become increasingly stringent, and the amount of data to be measured has grown exponentially. As a result, a wide variety of measurement tools and sensors have emerged. Thanks to these sensors, many previously challenging measurement problems have gradually been resolved, significantly improving measurement accuracy. Moreover, even environmental constraints that once limited human measurement efforts can now be effectively addressed through indirect measurements facilitated by sensors.

 

　　As industrial automation accelerates, the demand for sensors is growing—and becoming increasingly stringent. By “stringent,” we mean that requirements for sensor accuracy, size, lifespan, and other performance metrics are becoming ever more rigorous. In the early 1980s, China entered the stage of research and development and production of mechanical sensors, gradually developing a wide range of mechanical sensors including pressure sensors, weighing sensors, force sensors, tensile sensors, torque sensors, and more. Compared to earlier times when China relied entirely on importing force sensors from Europe and the U.S., we have now fully achieved independent R&D and mass production capabilities. From the initial single-point weighing sensors, S-type tensile and compression sensors, spoke-type force sensors, and column-type weighing sensors, we’ve progressed to offering custom-designed force sensors with specialized shapes tailored to specific customer needs. This development signifies that China’s force sensor industry is poised to enter the global market.

 

　　From the 1980s to the present, China has been consistently engaged in research, exploration, and innovation in the field of force sensors. After all, China entered this field relatively late. As a result, at present, whether it comes to sensor accuracy or lifespan, we still lag behind countries like those in Europe and the U.S. Even our neighboring country—Japan—has at least 15 years’ lead over us in force-sensor technology.

 

　　In particular, over the past few years, several established force measurement manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. have developed a new generation of miniature pressure sensors, small-scale load cells, and compact force sensors—high-precision force sensors that are miniaturized, small-sized, lightweight, and feature narrow measurement ranges. These compact force sensors have evolved alongside the pace of industrial automation. The large, bulky force sensors of earlier generations can no longer meet today’s customer demands. Increasingly, miniature, small-scale, and compact load cells and force sensors are poised to gradually replace their conventional-sized counterparts. The future belongs to small, miniature, compact, and lightweight load cells and force sensors.

 

　　The future applications of small/micro/small-sized/compact load cells are poised for explosive growth, and Shanghai Youran Sensor Technology Co., Ltd. is determined not to miss this opportunity. As early as 2011, Shanghai Youran began R&D and successfully developed several micro- and small-sized load cells, including models such as EVT-14D, EVT-14A, EVT-14L, and EVT-14M. The production and performance of these compact load cells have received unanimous praise from a wide range of customers. By 2012, Shanghai Youran continued to adopt advanced Japanese micro-strain technology and went on to develop more than ten additional micro- and small-sized load cells. At the same time, the company signed an agreement with Japan’s MTO Corporation.

 

　　Shanghai Youran has dispatched eight technical engineers to Japan’s MTO Co., Ltd. to learn about the research and development of miniature, small, and compact weighing and force sensors. Based on Chinese customer demand over the next few years, Japan’s MTO Co., Ltd. will invest in establishing a factory in Shanghai, China, and collaborate with Shanghai Youran Sensor Technology Co., Ltd. to provide high-quality force sensors to Chinese customers.